Healthy Athletes Health Spot Pilot Tested in Missouri
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Aldis Berzins, Special Olympics employee and member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic volleyball team, shows athletes the correct techniques for volleyball and practiced a few basic drills with them as part of the Health Spot Sports Skill Development station. |
The Special Olympics Missouri (USA) Summer Games in June had a unique and fun feature this summer - the Healthy Athletes Health Spot. Health Spot is the brainchild of Kester Edwards, a former aquatics athlete from Special Olympics Trinidad & Tobago and International Global Messenger (Class of 1998-2000), and now an integral member of the Healthy Athletes team at Special Olympics Inc. Edward's idea was to create a healthy environment for athletes to wait while their teammates participate in Healthy Athletes screenings.
With the success of the Missouri Summer Games, Edwards plans to conduct one or two additional pilots in 2008. Stay tuned for additional Health Spot news. Programs interested in bringing Health Spot to their Games can contact Edwards at kedwards@specialolympics.org for more information.
In His Own Words: Kester Edwards reflects on the first Health Spot pilot
The 2007 Special Olympics Missouri Summer Games were held 4-5 June at the University of Missouri Recreation Center.
More than 2,000 athletes and coaches from across the state participated in the Summer Games, and, for the first time, Special Olympics Missouri offered an entire Healthy Athletes Park at the event. Athletes had the opportunity to take part in six different screenings: Fun Fitness, Health Promotion, Healthy Hearing, Opening Eyes, Special Smiles, and a pilot program called the Health Spot.
What is the Health Spot? Health Spot is an area which offers activities that reinforce health messages by tying sports and health together. Health Spot gives positive, fun experiences while the athletes learn about healthy lifestyles; this complements other Healthy Athletes disciplines.
The Health Spot was initially piloted at the Missouri Summer Games with plans for two more pilots before determining if it can be included at future Healthy Athletes venues. There were three areas at the Health Spot: sports vision (Dr. Susan Danberg, sport vision coordinator), volleyball skills and tips (coordinated by Aldis Berzins, Special Olympics employee and member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic volleyball team that won the gold medal in Los Angeles, California, USA) and a cross-training area (Meg Dimsa, strength and conditioning coordinator at the University of Missouri). The goal was to have health and sports together as a tool to give tips on training and ways the athletes can work out at home. The Health Spot had 230 visitors that included athletes, coaches and families. The volunteers were primarily made up of University of Missouri students who were fitness trainers in different areas.
The Health Spot is a new concept to help athletes achieve their personal best by learning new techniques. Families, coaches and athletes commented that they loved the time frame and the idea of making the Healthy Athletes Park the center of all activities.
I would like to say thank you to Diannah White and all of the Special Olympics Missouri staff and volunteers who helped make the pilot happen.
Return to Healthy Athletes Update, Summer 2007
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